Benjamin Tallmadge

Benjamin Tallmadge (25 February 1754-7 March 1835) was a member of the US House of Representatives from Connecticut's at-large congressional district from 1801 to 1817, succeeding William Edmond and preceding Thomas Scott Williams. Tallmadge was an American Revolutionary War hero, founding the Culper Ring in New York and leading dragoons in raids against the British Army.

Biography
Benjamin Tallmadge was born on 25 February 1754 in Setauket, Long Island, New York, the son of a clergyman. Tallmadge was from a wealthy family, and he learned Greek, Latin, and Hebrew at Yale College before he graduated in 1773, being classmates and friends with Nathan Hale; he joined the Freemasons around this time. From 1773 to 1776, he served as superintendent of Wethersfield High School in Connecticut, and he enlisted in the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons from Connecticut in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War.

Dragoon captain
Tallmadge commanded dragoons in the ambush of a British Army patrol in the Raid on Meigs Harbor in the autumn of 1776 when the British attempted to raid a Continental Army safe haven, earning him the reprimand of his superior, General Charles Scott. Tallmadge and Scott had further rivalries when a mutiny broke out in northern New Jersey in the winter, with Tallmadge refusing to execute one of the Donegal mutineers, a young adult named Newt; Tallmadge claimed that he was passive and deserved a trial, and Scott shot Newt himself and said that he would court-martial Tallmadge. General Scott disregarded Tallmadge's warning that the Hessians were encamped at Trenton, which he had learned from his New York contact and childhood friend Abraham Woodhull, a spy for the revolutionaries in Setauket, burning the unsigned letter.

Intelligence commander
However, the victory at the Battle of Trenton led to George Washington himself seeking out Tallmadge, and he asked him about Woodhull. Eventually, it became apparent that Woodhull could be a very useful person, and Washington decided to promote Tallmadge to Major and give him command of the intelligence of the Continental Army, sending General Scott to the front. Tallmadge, working together with Nathaniel Sackett, helped in the formation of the Culper Ring, giving Abraham the alias of "Samuel" in honor of his brother, and Tallmadge communicated between the Culper Ring and Sackett. Tallmadge would lead a raid on Setauket in 1777 against Major Edmund Hewlett; was responsible for uncovering Benedict Arnold's plot to hand over West Point to Great Britain; and captured the British spy John Andre in 1780, three great feats. On 21 November 1780, he raided Fort George in New York City, burning down the Manor St. George and 300 tons of hay, disrupting the British Army's plans for having a comfortable encampment that winter. From March 1781 to November 1783, he served at Washington's headquarters, and he retired with the disbanding of the army.

Postwar career
Tallmadge would go on to enter politics in his adoptive state of Connecticut, being elected to the US House of Representatives for an at-large congressional district with the Federalist Party. He died on 7 March 1831 at the age of 81.